Secret 20…I can’t handle it when people use my stuff without asking

Jun

2009

Secret 20…I can’t handle it when people use my stuff without asking

Ah, it’s the only child in me you see? I like to think of myself as a big hearted, sharing kind of person..what’s mine is yours, I’ll lend you anything HELL I’ll pretty much GIVE you anything if you ask. I have no issue at all with that. But if you take my stuff without asking? Well, you’re in the Grudge Book for life.

I guess this comes from, as a child, always knowing where my ‘stuff’ was ie. exactly where I left it. As a result, I get very antsy when my stuff ISN’T where I left it or if I find people using it without asking. Naturally I am a grown up and I have learnt to paint on a relaxed, ‘No, go ahead, it’s not problem’ mask. But inside I’m screaming, ‘GET…OFF…MY…STUFF!”

I have a particular issue with stationary items in the workplace. Generally I sellotape a sticker with my name on it on to key items such as staplers, hole punches etc. Alas my current colleagues seem to think this is some kind of challenge; I am rarely in the office so they think it’s OK to use my stuff (wrong – to be clear, it is never, ever OK to use my stuff without my express consent). They have attached another sticker to my stapler which says ‘We use this all the time when you’re not here!!!’ Oh, how I laughed and jested with them when I saw it. Whilst mentally scribbling in the Grudge Book of course…

One of the real downsides of having children is that they have absolutely no respect for the concept of ‘my stuff’. Over the years I’ve had to concede my mobile, my make up, my notepads, my handbags etc to them. But two things make me rage when they even approach them are (1) my Symthson diary, so pristine and pink with blue page prettiness and (2) my MacBook. Even MrSpud gets the evils when he dares to use it. The boys stab at the screen with buttery/chocolatey fingers, then smear it all over the keyboard, and takes turns to ‘shut the door’ i.e slam the lid down with force. Entry in the Grudge Book for them too, every time.

Smythson Diary and favourite necklace (since broken by boys...grr)

I know, it’s only ‘stuff’. But, you know, it’s MY STUFF. So leave it alone unless you’ve asked to use/borrow/abuse it. OK?

If you liked that, you might like this ...

Filed under: 30 Secrets in 30 Days, Material things I love

View Comments

Share and Enjoy:

Relyn

My things, not so much. I don't have my office supplies labeled, don't mind loaning my stuff, except. Don't sit at my desk. I mean it! At work, just DO NOT sit at my desk. Drives me nuts! Who do they think they are. There's 25 other chairs in this darn classroom, do NOT sit in mine. Sheesh!
Clare

Heh - I have a MacBook and that precise case. Sadly the Mac is covered in sticky fingerprints from the babies. And my mobile phone has a crack in the screen that's turned into a hole. Sob!
Kristina

I absolutely agree with you! Everyone should have their own stuff and not touch mine (but maybe I can touch theirs if it's really cool...?)
I also put my name on all my office supplies - not that it works though.
Se'Lah

I am raising an only child so I am paying close attention here ;) I so love and enjoy your wit.
Ali

Oh duh... scratch that... I see it way up there with the earlies... now you know how I come back and reread sfuff... you are too hilarious to only read one time!!!! doesn't that give you a warm and fuzzy?
Ali

OK I did a comment and what the heck happened to it??? I wanted to say I hate it when someone shares without asking... all I had were hand me downs and now I am not sharing with no one no way no how!!!!
julochka

i don't so much mind if they use the stuff if they just PUT IT BACK. i finally had to tie the scissors to the kitchen drawer because no one ever put them back and it was DRIVING ME INSANE.

we solved the mac thing by buying one for everyone in the family. then they can touch their own damn mac.

and stay the hell away from my "clever phone" as husband calls the iPhone.

i'm so gonna have to get a grudge book...

but speaking of borrowing things, let's talk lens swap, eh, nikon girl....
Christina

Oh yes, I understand this all too well. I am an only child! lol

OMGoodness your hair is so adorable! I'm a curly girl too!
; )
rxBambi

LOL that is so funny. I usually don't mind when people use my stuff, I figure if it's there and you don't break it, go ahead. HOWEVER my ONE RULE is that you MUST PUT IT BACK WHERE YOU GOT IT!! Seriously, it wasn't yours in the first place. I could have made you go without it. I am generously allowing you to touch it. PUT THE DAMN THING BACK.

ahhh. I feel better.
VEG

I am in total agreement - it drives me buggy when I come into the office and all of my stuff on my desk is moved or worse, missing. I am very particular about how I like my desk arranged. And when it is messed up, I can easily go postal on anyone's ass for any reason. Maybe I need a grudge book too?
Eliane

I used to have (and wear) my beloved pre-crocs-garden-slippers which were AAAAALLLLWWWWAAAYYYYSSS missing when I needed them. and in ireland you need your plastic garden slippers quite often... so last summer I bought (fake) PINK crocs. I mean really bright pink. I assumed my two boys wouldn't not even consider touching them. little man (10) overheard me talking about that wicked plan to somebody. and now he wears my pink crocs constantly! at least I can find my green slippers most of the time. PS tell your wicked cat to have a look at http://www.whatjeffkilled.com - your authoritative source for news and information about Jeff The Giant Orange Cat and his favorite pastime: killing things.
Bee

Love that finger-pointing picture! As you clutch your precious things to your bosom.

Children just don't respect Mommy's property, do they? Starting with trashing our bodies . . . my hair has never recovered, for instance, and my bladder ain't what it used to be either.
seaside girl

I agree with Polly. If I had a Mac I would totally have to kill anyone that touched it. Including the darling children. In fact they know this already and I don't even have one.
spudballoo

Trainers? Oh no, that is wrong and bad. Straight in the Grudge Book for him...
iasa

I have a few items that I don't like to loan out without my knowledge, but for the most part it doesn't bother me. I came home one time to find that my eldest son had loaned my trainers to a friend of his. Neither one of them thought to ask. That is just soooo wrong.
spudballoo

Ali I have totally missed you and was obsessively checking your site until I discovered google reader. Dohhh.

And where the HELL have you been? It's not OK to push off with out permission you know? And shouldn't you be scheduling stuff for publication in your absence? YOUR PUBLIC NEED YOU. And aren't you supposed to be doing 5 questions for me?

Sighs in a big fat huffy mess. Poof. Nice holiday? xx
Ali

Heellooooooo dahling... have you missed me... I need to catch up on your secrets but have been busy lazing around for five days. I don't like people using my stuff either 'cos I am the youngest of four and never had my own stuff growing up... it was all previously loved!!!! Bull shit it's a hand me down and you know it, Mother!!!!! So now I covet everything and being the oldie I am I reserve the right to openly and loudly express my feelings, get over it. Hee Hee I'm a wee meanie sometimes!!! Good to have me back aint it??
Polly

I completely agree, I hate it when people use my things without asking. Whenever I leave the office I say "I'll be back in..., don't touch my stuff"... no I don't, but maybe I should.

And sellotaping post-its to staplers is a great idea.

And if I had a Mac (rather than PC) I also would never ever let anyone touch it!
The Fragrant Muse

Hey, the crossout thingie doesn't work here.
The Fragrant Muse

ME TOO SpudBallooooo! I was raised almost as an only child being born many many years after what they thought was the last one. I was a mistake bonus child. Anyway, god forbid if my stuff gets used or touched without my knowledge.

On the other hand, I can touch other's people stuff all day long and it doesn't bother me a bit.

Chez Spud